Popularity of trains servicing this route:

Irkutsk

Irkutsk was founded in the 1661 as a fort to colonize Siberia. It was the main Russian fort behind the Ural mountains, so all the expeditions to colonize Kamchatka and Alaska have begun there. For centuries Russian emperors and communists (later) exiled political prisoners to Irkutsk, so many brainy Russians spent years in the city and this influenced the average IQ level of inhabitants.
Irkutsk, a center of culture and refinement, is the “Paris of Siberia.” The culture and refinement at this one-time outpost near the Mongolian border came from the Decembrists, a group of Russian revolutionaries that tried to topple... the Russian Empire in 1825. Two of the homes that housed some of the largest salons and other social gatherings of this era, the Volkonsky House and the Trubetskoy House, still stand, the former of which remains one of the more popular museums of the city.
The center of the city is full of wooden houses with typical decorative carvings on the walls and window frames. Most of the buildings of this kind were destroyed in Moscow and other big cities during the industrialization of the 20th century, so it’s a rare opportunity to see what a Russian city would look like if it stayed the way it was back in the days.
Irkutsk sits in a region so cold that parts of the ground never thaw, even in the hottest summer days. It’s no surprise that the icebreaker Angara, one of the oldest in the world, and a museum for geology serve as important sights for tourists. Traditionally, Irkutsk was the city from which the great Russian explorers set out. Even today, it is a great place to start one’s own personal exploration of Siberia and the Russian Far East, especially to Lake Baikal, which is just a 1 hour ride from the city!Show LessRead More

Moscow

A city with palaces alongside business towers, royal gardens in view of shopping districts, and historical landmarks as public transportation hubs, Moscow is truly a city unlike any other. More than eight centuries of history have shaped this metropolis into the bustling, populous, vibrant destination it is today. The prominent combination of the past and the future make Moscow one of the greatest cities on Earth. The first reference to Moscow was made by Yuri Dolgorukiy in 1147, nine years before the first wall of the city was erected. Moscow grew and developed over the next few centuries and in 1327 took on the title of... capital city for the first time. The principality of Vladimir-Suzdal elected Moscow as its capital due to its advantageous location on the Volga River. It was because of this location that Moscow became known as the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
Since the collapse of the Soviet regime, Moscow has experienced a rebirth of creativity and life. The oppressive rulers and strict censorship of Russia’s past were replaced by the open and welcoming arms of tourism and the exciting possibility of a fresh start. Where once there were empty warehouses and imposing, dreary buildings are now eclectic art displays and hip young clubs. Museums are expanding, historic sites are renovating, and the entire city is a flurry of rejuvenation and hope. Tourism to Moscow grows by the year. With architecture known worldwide for its stunning combination of modern and historic trends, this city is a treasure trove of eye candy and intellectual stimulation. See sites such as St. Basil’s Cathedral, a gorgeous onion-domed wonder of worship, and the Kremlin, Moscow’s mighty red-brick fortress, explore the Botanical gardens that sweep against the base of skyscrapers, creating an atmosphere of adventure that begs to be explored!
A city that combines elegance and practicality, politics and ideology, cultural appreciation and modern conveniences, Moscow is a city one falls in love with at first sight!Show LessRead More